Bolt Prospect of the Week: March 3, 2014

We continue our Bolt Prospect of the Week award, an honor (virtually) given to one Tampa Bay Lightning prospect for their recent contributions on and off the ice.

The Prospect of the Week for March 3, 2014 is … Matt Peca, C, Quinnipiac Bobcats (NCAA - USA).

Lightning prospect Jonathan Drouin is a point machine set on automatic, but even Drouin hasn’t done what Matt Peca did this week.

Peca, a seventh round pick of Tampa Bay in 2011, had a six-point game on Friday as his Quinnipiac Bobcats toppled St. Lawrence University, 8-0. Even the snowman on the scoreboard was impressed with Peca’s performance.

The most Drouin has scored in a game is five points, which he’s done twice. Peca is the only player in NCAA Division I to record a six-point game this season. It also tied a QU record for points in a game and gave him 100 total points for his collegiate career.

A native of Petawawa, Ontario, Peca opened Friday’s scoring with his 11th goal of the season, then assisted on two of No. 6 QU’s next three goals before scoring his 12th. He added two more assists to give him 21 on the year for 33 points on the season. He added another assist the following night in a 1-1 tie vs Clarkson.

The junior has 19 points in his last 11 games; 34 in 36 overall.

Peca projects as high as a scoring line forward at the NHL level with the floor of a fourth line energy player capable of putting up points. His character and compete-level are off the charts as he makes up for what he lacks in size (5-9) with heart.

Lightning fans have seen that before out of an undersized forward.

Peca will likely finish his college eligibility next season before starting his professional career with AHL Syracuse.